Central African Republic

Operational context

Despite the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, signed in February 2019, the socio-political and security situation in the country remained volatile. The number of IDPs in the Central African Republic continued to decrease, though new displacements were registered due to ongoing clashes between armed forces and non-state armed groups.
 
A new electoral crisis erupted in December 2020, which–on top of decades of armed violence–exacerbated the shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and brought humanitarian needs in the Central African Republic to unparalleled levels. UNHCR’s protection monitoring reported an increase in the number of protection incidents in 2020, of which 47% were gender-based violence related. In addition to these factors, bouts of flooding due to disruptions in the rainy seasons, caused additional concerns in the Central African Republic.
 
As of December 2020, more than half of the Central African Republic population was dependent on humanitarian assistance. From January to November, the security situation relatively improved, allowing UNHCR to continue facilitating voluntary returns, despite the interruption due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Population trends

The year 2020 saw a marked improvement in the security situation in many areas and return movements were observed in several localities. These trends were disrupted by the post-electoral crisis of December 2020 which forced over 200,000 Central Africans to flee, particularly in the areas of Bouar, Dekoa, Bouca and, Bangassou. By year end, the Commission Mouvements des Populations, reported 682,000 IDPs, with 52,277 new IDPs recorded in December alone, due to the post-electoral crisis.

The Central African Republic hosted 9,083 refugees mainly located in Bangui, Obo, Ndélé and Bambari and 285 asylum-seekers. This refugee population is comprised of 57% Congolese, 17% Chadians, 18% South Sudanese, 4% Sudanese and 4% of mixed other nationalities. 51% refugees were women and 49% men. Children represented 53% of refugees, 43% of adults and 4% of elderly people.

The total number of facilitated returnees from 2017 to 2020 reached de 21,421, including 4,738 who returned over the course of 2020.

Key achievements

• UNHCR lead 2 Clusters: the Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Shelter, and NFIs Cluster, as well as the Protection Cluster.
• 110 IDP sites were provided with Camp Coordination and Camp Management services.
• The protection situation was monitored in 12 prefectures (out of a total of 16 in the Central African Republic).
• Four quarterly protection monitoring reports were produced and shared widely.

 Unmet needs

• 90% of returnees did not receive shelter assistance.
• 98% of areas hosting IDPs continued to be threatened by armed groups.
• Reported incidents of gender-based violence increased by 17% in 2020, compared to 2019.
• 63% of IDPs did not receive core relief items.
• Less than 10% of returnees who expressed a willingness to return managed to do so in 2020.
• 52% of refugees did not have access to primary health care.
• 46% of refugee children living in remote areas were not enrolled in education.
• 57% of refugees at heightened risk did not have access to services specific to their vulnerabilities. 

Use of flexible funding (unearmarked or softly earmarked funding)

The availability of flexible funding allowed UNHCR to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spreading throughout the major IDP-hosting sites. UNHCR was able to put in place preventive measures, including information campaigns, distribution of PPE and improved WASH facilities.

Working environment

Following the signing of a peace agreement between the central Government and armed groups in February 2019, the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) is expected to de-escalate, allowing for the return of both internally displaced populations and refugees.
 
UNHCR will support the implementation of the National Plan for Reconciliation, and Peacebuilding 2017-2021 in line of goals with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2018-2021 which is articulated with the Humanitarian Response Plan ensuring a close cooperation between humanitarian and development actors. In line with this coordinated approach, UNHCR will continue to engage with the government and all relevant humanitarian and development actors to guide their interventions in the return areas, and to advocate for returnees to be included in their projects in the areas of return.to ensure a sustainable reintegration of displaced populations.
 
Regarding refugees living in CAR, UNHCR will continue to support the Government in implementing the process of local integration of long-term urban refugees. This will include a legal (naturalization and privileged residence) and an economic (income-generating activities) components.
 
To eradicate statelessness, UNHCR intends to support the implementation of the national plan against statelessness with a focus on finalizing the study initiated in 2019, the domestication of the 1954 and 1961 United Nations Conventions on Statelessness and on ensuring civilian documentation (birth certificates) for persons at risk of statelessness.
 

Key priorities

In 2020, UNHCR will focus on:

• Facilitating the voluntary return of refugees and IDPs through provision of assistance (30,000 people will receive return packages; 30,000 people will receive cash grants and 28,000 people will be provided with accommodation);
• Supporting the rehabilitation of basic socio-community infrastructure, such as schools, health centers and water wells coupled with income-generating activities.
• Supporting the Government in the areas of social cohesion, Housing, Land and Property rights and civil documentation.
• Strengthening protection through improved monitoring of hosting areas;
• Improving self-reliance and livelihoods through the distribution of production kits or inputs for agriculture/livestock/fisheries activities, and support to the formation of small business associations.
• Strengthening its leadership in coordinating protection, shelter and CCCM clusters, the durables Solutions Working Group, and its participation in other coordination mechanisms such as the national task force on prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation.